The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority mandate the fitment and use of an
Airborne Collision Avoidance System in all aircraft with a
passenger seating capacity of 10 - 30 seats engaged in Regular
Public Transport operations and set a timetable for the
introduction of such equipment.
I refer to the draft ASO Report on the traffic confliction
incident involving Beech 1900, VH-IMA, Beech 1900, VH-IMH, Piper
PA-31 (Chieftain) VH-SVV, and De Havilland DHC-8-201 (Dash 8),
VH-TQO, which occurred near Port Macquarie, NSW on 28 April
1999.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority does not agree with
recommendations R20000181 and R20000182, but supports
recommendations R20000184, R20000198 and R20000199. R20000183 is
still being considered.
I am concerned that in making the recommendations contained in
R20000181 and R20000182, the ATSB has not recognised either the
limitations of ACAS equipment or the fact that such recommendations
cannot be justified on a cost-benefit basis. A detailed report on
this aspect of the incident is attached, which has been prepared by
the CASA officer who is the current Australian member of the ICAO
Secondary Surveillance Radar Improvements and Collision Avoidance
Systems Panel.
CASA is, at this stage, still considering R20000183 and is
currently reviewing mandatory requirements for the carriage and
activation of transponders. Although the current level of
transponder fitment in the Australian fleet is high, it is accepted
that a higher level of fitment and mandatory requirements for
activation of transponders where TCAS-equipped aircraft are
operating would enhance safety.
With regard to recommendation R20000184, recent articles in Flight
Safety Australia have highlighted both the use of transponders
generally and the specific transponder requirements for the
effectiveness of TCAS. CASA will continue to encourage all levels
of industry to a greater level of understanding of the importance
of transponder activation.
With regard to recommendation R20000198, CASA currently audits air
transport operations to ensure that safety management systems are
established and maintained, and the new regulations (CASR Part 119)
being developed will introduce more stringent requirements to
ensure that such matters are addressed in the standard operating
procedures of all air transport companies.
With regard to recommendation R20000199, CASA is currently
reviewing all pilot licensing requirements within the context of
the new CASR Part 61. Competency based standards are being
progressively introduced to ensure that all pilots have an adequate
knowledge of operational subjects, including separation assurance
techniques.
